November 2005

Metro NY Minute -- November 2005

Upcoming Workshops and Meetings

Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:

Elementary Our Whole Lives (OWL) Training: Sponsored by the District, November 11-13, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY. To register, visit the RE-sources page at the District website.

UU Women's Association (UUWA) Fall Renewal Weekend: Sponsored by the UU Women's Assocation and the Metro NY District Women and Religion Committee, November 11-13, at St. Josephat's Retreat House in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY. All UU women in the District are invited. Contact Reena Kondo at 212-724-0438.

Young Religious UU (YRUU) Leadership Development Con: Sponsored by and held at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County, Lincroft NJ, November 18-20. Click here for a flyer. For registration information, visit www.metroyac.org.

A Conversation with the District Board: Sponsored by the District, December 10, at the Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation, East Brunswick NJ. For information, contact Jerry Muntz.

Advanced Youth Advisor Training: Sponsored by the District, January 20-22, 2006, location to be announced. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.

Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: Sponsored by and held at the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ), February 3-5, 2006. For information, contact Genna Ayres.

Anti-Racism & Diversity Committee (ARDC) Conclave: Sponsored by the District, February 25, 2006, at the Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For information, contact Jennifer Hampshire.

6th National Conference for Mid-Size Congregations: Sponsored by the UUA, March 2-5, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.

A Conversation with the District Board: Sponsored by the District, March 11, 2006, at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ). For information, contact Jerry Muntz.

Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: Sponsored by and held at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County, Lincroft NJ, March 24-26, 2006. For information, contact Genna Ayres.

Did You Know . . . ?

. . . The South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund has been created by the UUA and UU Service Committee (UUSC) to aid victims of the October 8 earthquake. To donate, click here.

. . . The UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY) has offered a generous challenge grant to benefit the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund. To donate, click here.

. . . The UUA will be advertising in Times Square this holiday season on the NBC Astrovision Screen. More than 36 million people will have the chance to see a message about the good news of our faith.

. . . The District now operates under policy governance. District President Jerry Muntz offers a brief explanation.

. . . District congregations pledge their support to the UUA Annual Program Fund. 100% Full Share participation means an additional $9000 grant from the UUA to the District. Read more from District Annual Program Fund Chair Jim Sanders.

. . . The District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (ARDC) provides resources, consultation, and support for congregations working to move forward in justice-making. Read more from Co-Chairs the Rev. Hope Johnson and Carl Heath.

. . . The District Youth Adult Committee (YAC) has a new website for District Young Religious UUs (YRUUs). Visit www.metroyac.org and check it out! (This website replaces www.metroyac.com/index2).

. . . The Fall 2005 Chalice Lighters Call is now in full swing to help the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY) to engage its minister, the Rev. Dawn Sangrey, for half-time service. The Spring 2005 Call for the UU Congregation of Queens (Flushing NY) is complete, with a total of $26,100 collected from 39 of the District's 51 congregations.

More Good Stuff to Check Out!

Report from the District UUA Trustee, the Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

SmallTalk for or small congregations

Action Alerts from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy

InterConnections for lay leaders

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

UUWorld.org, UUA's online magazine

UUA News Clips for your newsletter

It Bears Repeating!

. . . The time is now! to nominate worthy UU individuals and congregations for the 2006 District Awards. Awards will be presented at the District's 2006 Annual Meeting April 28-29, 2006, in Stamford CT..

. . . The second in a Series of Conversations between the District board and congregational leaders to explore creating and sustaining healthy congregations is scheduled for December 10 at the Unitarian Society, a UU Congregation, in East Brunswick NJ. Click here for further details.

. . . The South Nassau UU Congregation (Freeport NY) Yuuth group and parents held a coffee house on October 21 to raise funds for the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund. The evening of music from seven teen rock bands was organized by Yuuth members Will Stevens and Sam Bryson-Brockmann and raised close to $2,000 for the fund!

. . . The UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) has begun an adult religious education course titled "Engaging Our Theological Diversity", based on the recently published report of the UUA Commission on Appraisal and open to all.

. . . Rev. Barry Andrews, Minister of Religious Education at the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY), is author of True Harvest: Readings from Henry David Thoreau for Every Day of the Year, newly published by Skinner House. A recognized expert on Thoreau, Rev. Andrews is also author of Thoreau as Spiritual Guide, Emerson as Spiritual Guide, and A Dream Too Wild: Emerson Meditations for Every Day of the Year.

. . . The Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) hosted a town meeting on October 16 organized by Garden State Equality titled "Let My Parents Marry" to allow children of same-sex couples to speak out in support of same-sex marriage, an issue currently before New Jersey's highest court.

. . . The Unitarian Church of Montclair will host a town meeting on November 10 organized by Garden State Equality titled "Straight New Jerseyans for Marriage Equality" to showcase straight New Jerseyans supporting marriage equality for same sex couples.

. . . The Upper Delaware UU Fellowship (Beach Lake PA) hosted on October 16 its 13th Annual Bud Rue Walk for Social Justice fundraiser. Over 20 walkers enjoyed the 5-mile hike through the Pennsylvania countryside and a sumptuous potluck afterwards. Thus far the fellowship has raised over $3,500 to be donated to four local social justice organizations.

. . . The UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) raised both money and community awareness of the Congregation at its Pumpkin Patch. Selling pumpkins to net more than $5000, they distributed hundreds of flyers, too.

. . . The Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) invites you to join a new email list, CLF-StartingSmall, intended for CLF members who are leading, would like tostart, or are attending a small UU congregation of 50 members or less. Share your ideas, resources, successes, and challenges. To subscribe, click here and then follow the link for CLF-StartingSmall.

. . . The UUA Taskforce on Ministry To and With Youth met for the first time in October. Read the Taskforce's newsletter with important information for leaders involved in youth ministry.

Milestones and Transitions

On October 30, the Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation (East Brunswick NJ)bestowed the title Minister Emeritus to honor the long and meritorious service of its minister, the late Rev. R. Paul Mueller.

Catherine Torpey will be ordained and installed by the South Nassau UU Congregation (Freeport NY) on March 19, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. Catherine will be a guest on the televison show "New Morning TV" on the Hallmark Channel on November 18 at 7:00 a.m.

The Rev. Alison Miller will be installed by the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship on November 13.

The Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation (East Brunswick NJ) is celebrating its 50th year as a liberal religious community.